During the unprecedented events over the past few weeks, with on-premise venues shutting down around the world during the COVD-19 pandemic and growing shortages of hand sanitiser, it’s been inspiring to see drinks companies offer their support.
Lion has announced additional measures to assist its on-premise customers following Prime Minister Scott Morrison shutting down registered and licensed clubs, licensed premises in hotels and pubs, entertainment venues, casinos and nightclubs.
Lion’s National Sales Director Mark Powell said: “We acknowledge this is an extremely distressing time for everyone involved in the hospitality industry. At Lion, we are doing everything we can to work quickly and provide our valued on-premise customers with the support they need right now.
“Following the Government’s announcement that pubs and clubs will close, we are now in the process of working through options to assist our customers who are affected by this new closure order.
“Lion will take back unused kegs and offer customers a credit. For safety reasons these kegs must be full and capped.
“To process a full keg pick-up and credit request, customers can email Lion Connect on lionconnect.enquiries@lionco.com with the keg quantity, best before date, keg number/s and venue account number.
Carlton & United Breweries CEO Peter Philipovic said: “Our thoughts are with our valued partners at pubs, clubs and other hospitality venues. This is obviously a difficult time but we will get through this together.
All our breweries remain fully operational – under strict Health and Safety Rules – with our outstanding brewery workers continuing to brew. This includes the Abbotsford Brewery in Melbourne, Yatala Brewery outside Brisbane and Hobart’s Cascade Brewery. It also includes all our craft breweries.
As such, we are currently brewing enough beer to ensure we supply our retail customers and ensure Australians are still able to enjoy a beer in their home in these unprecedented times.
Distillers switch to hand santiser production
Two iconic Queensland rum distillers have stepped up to help the state during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring a supply of much-needed hand sanitiser.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick praised the rum distillers: “Beenleigh Rum – Australia’s oldest distillery – will commence the production of hand sanitiser this week and have arrangements to supply the Queensland Government to ensure we have a ready supply for schools and frontline workers.
“Bundaberg Rum is also going full steam ahead with the production of ethanol, and will donate 100,000 litres – enough to produce around 500,000 bottles – to the Queensland Government.
“I can’t thank these mighty Queensland manufacturers enough.”
David Smith, Managing Director of Bundaberg Rum’s parent company Diageo Australia, said the company had a duty to support the community in this unprecedented time of need through its donation of ethanol.
“Bundaberg Rum is a Queensland icon, we’ve felt the love of Australians since our distillery was first established more than 130 years ago in 1888,” Smith said.
“At a time like this we will always step up and contribute when Australians need it most.”
Click here to read more about the drinks companies producing hand sanitiser.
In addition to producing 1 million litres of hand sanitiser, Bacardi has launched an initiative called #RaiseYourSpirits to support the restaurant and bar industry, which has been debilitated by the COVID-19 shutdown.
The company pledged $US3million in financial aid and other support to help the bar industry during this unimaginable time. This donation is in addition to the $US1million pledged by the Patron tequila brand last week.
Woolworths Group to hire 20,000 staff
Woolworths Group has announced it will hire up to 20,000 new roles across its supermarkets, e-commerce, supply chain and drinks businesses in Australia over the next month.
The new hires will assist the retailer to meet the unprecedented demand for food and drinks across Australia. It will also help scale up online operations to support the changing shopping needs of the community as the health crisis continues to unfold.
Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said: “Our immediate hiring focus is the redeployment of our ALH team members impacted by this week’s mandatory hotel closures.
“We have already placed around 3000 of those impacted into new roles across BWS, Dan Murphy’s and Woolworths Supermarkets and will continue to take expressions of interest.
“We’re also preparing to offer up to 5000 short-term roles to Qantas Group employees taking leave without pay, including more than 1500 in our distribution centres.”
